Legal Assistance

The legal issues that older adults face are often more critical than those problems faced by any other segment of our population. The legal issues may include income security, health care, long-term care, nutrition, housing, utilities, protective services, defense of guardianship, abuse, neglect, and age discrimination. It is important for elders to know their rights and seek advice when they need it.

Legal services funded under the Older Americans Act provide and enhance important protections for older persons. To learn more about these programs, visit the Legal Assistance page on the Administration on Aging website.

National Information and Resources

Here are a few national websites that provide useful information on a variety of legal issues.

Pension Counseling and Information Program
The U.S. Administration on Aging Pension Counseling and Information Program provides free legal assistance to individuals experiencing a problem with their pension, profit sharing or retirement savings plans. The project currently serves 30 states (AR, AZ, CA, CT, HI, IL, IN, IA, KY, LA, MA, ME, MI, MN, MO, ND, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SD, TN, TX, VT, WI). Not located within one of these 30 states? You may be able to find help with your pension questions by visiting PensionHelp America

The National Legal Resource Center
The Legal Issues section of the National Legal Resource Center website contains extensive resources on a variety of topics related to Elder Law.

Federal Trade Commission – Identity Theft
This website is a one-stop national resource to learn about the crime of identity theft. It provides detailed information to help you deter, detect, and defend against identity theft.